Splash Resistant Lid With a Snap-On Baffle

ABSTRACT

A splash minimizing lid assembly for a container comprises a lid and a baffle insert with a number of openings. The lid comprises a continuous lid bead having a horizontal portion and a radially extending portion. The lid snaps onto the brim of the container and sandwiches the baffle insert between the horizontal portion of the lid bead and the brim. The bead is designed to accommodate the baffle insert which can be snapped into the bead, wherein the height of the bid should be sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the baffle insert and the brim of the container. The lid typically stacks or nests in a conventional manner separately from the baffle insert. The baffle insert can be snapped into the lid bead when the lid is used to close a container. The lid and the baffle insert can be manufactured from the same material.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to containers with lids designed to preventsplashing and spillage of liquids stored in the containers. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a cover assembly comprising a lidand a baffle insert designed to minimize splashing and spillage of theliquids from the containers during transportation.

[0002] In the growing take-out food market segment beverages and otherhot and cold liquids are often transported between the point of sale ordistribution and the place of consumption. Typically hot and coldbeverages are poured into a disposable container and closed with asnap-on lid keeping the container closed by engaging with the upper brimof the container. It often happened that the transported liquids jiggleand splash during transportation, causing the liquids to spill out ofthe cup or container and cause inconvenience, damage or injury. Toprevent such undesirable results from happening, many cups andcontainers are provided with a spill and splash resistant lid or coverdesigned to prevent leakage and splashing from the container. Generally,such splash and spill resistant lids comprise a removable cover with aperipheral portion snap fitting tightly over the brim of the cup orcontainer. The tightly fit lid prevents the undesirable spillage of theliquids out of the container, while allowing a person to drink or sipthe liquids through the lid remaining on the cup. A sip opening and avent opening are punched in the lid to allow the person to drink fromthe cup with the lid on. The openings are typically configured anddesigned to prevent the spillage of the liquids when the cup transportedor unintentionally moved. Such lids are often used on disposable cupsand other containers taken by persons to, or served on, moving vehicles,boats, airplanes, trains and other means of transportation.

[0003] One of the problems associated with the snap-on lids is thatwhile they considerably reduce the spillage, splashing of a hot beverageor another liquid through a sip opening can happen every time acontainer is moved. Typical for designs of snap-on disposable lids, asip opening is positioned close to the edge of the lid, while a ventopening is positioned either in the center of the lid or near the edgeof the lid oppositely from the sip opening. To prevent spillage from thecontainers covered by such lids, a baffle or a splash guard is disposedabove the liquid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,537 to Caccavaledescribes a lid and a disc insert for a take-out hot food container. Thelid and a disc-shaped insert are assembled either in a snap-on orpress-fit engagement in order to define an insulating air space betweenthe insert and the top of the lid to provide a degree of insulation forthe hot food inside the container. To enable air ventilation, the inserthas one or more vent holes. At least one bead is formed on the side wallof the lid to snap on and engage a retention member of the container.The insert itself is spaced apart from the container and is retained inassembly with the lid by a spaced apart bead in a snap-on engagement.The lid itself has one or more vent holes disposed out of registry orvertical alignment with the insert vent holes.

[0004] Another example of a container lid is described in U.S. Pat. No.4,322,014 to Philip. In that patent both a drinking opening and a ventopening have a baffle arrangement such that the axis of the baffle,taken along the fluid flow lines, forms a straight line and does notfollow the contour or radius of the exterior of the lid, making it arather complicated design. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,761,301 toTellier, U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,447 to Spencer, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,044to Lerner describe an anti-splash guard which can be inserted downwardlyinto a container to minimize a risk of spillage from a container onto aperson. Those anti-splash guards are pressed a considerable distanceinto the containers, minimizing the useable space which could be filledwith a beverage or other liquid.

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to provide a splash resistantassembly for-a container, allowing a person to transport the containerwithout spilling the liquid from it and drink the liquid through the siphole of the same lid after transporting the container to the place ofconsumption. In particular, dome-shaped hot drink lids are known forallowing a hot or cold liquid to splash or spill out when the cups orcontainers covered by such lids are shaken or jostled duringtransportation or handling. Therefore, a need exists to provide a spilland splash resistant lid assembly for the take out food market tominimize the risk of spillage while transporting a cup of soup orbeverage. It would also be desirable if a splash resistant lid assemblyhaving a simple design and not taking up useable space of the containercould be provided.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] To address the above-described and related needs, the presentinvention provides an assembly comprising a lid and a baffle insert. Ina preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly comprises adome-shaped lid and a disc-shaped baffle insert. In particular, theinvention comprises a cover assembly for a container which has a sidewall with a brim disposed around the top portion of the side wall. Thecover assembly comprises a lid having a lid peripheral portion with acontinuous lid bead running around the peripheral portion. The lid beadhas a horizontal brim portion, which can be annular, and a downwardlyextending peripheral skirt portion configured to engage with the curledor rolled brim in a snap fitting manner. A baffle made of a flexiblematerial comprises a baffle peripheral portion, a first horizontalsurface, which can be annular, and a plurality of openings disposedalong the baffle peripheral portion. The configuration of the baffle issuch that the baffle can be inserted into the lid by engaging the baffleperipheral portion in a snap fit relationship with the continuous radiallid bead and by engaging the first horizontal surface of the baffle in afitting relationship with the horizontal portion of the lid when thebaffle peripheral portion is retained between the horizontal portion ofthe lid and the brim. In the case of an annular disc-shaped baffleinsert, the openings are disposed along the circumference of theperipheral portion of the baffle. In one of the embodiments of theinvention an additional opening is provided in the center of thedisc-shaped baffle insert.

[0007] The lid and the baffle can be made of the thermoplastic or papermaterial and be of approximately the same thickness. Since the lid ispreferably used with drinking cups or soup bowls, the lid comprises adrinking, or sip, opening in the dome portion of the lid. It isimportant to note that the size of the openings provided around theperiphery of the baffle insert should be generally smaller than that ofthe sip opening in the dome portion of the lid. Such a relationshipbetween the size of the sip opening and the size of the openings aroundthe periphery of the baffle insert greatly reduces the spillage fromsplashing while still making it possible and convenient for a person todrink through the lid. The openings in the baffle control the splashingwhile allowing access the liquid to the sip opening when the containeris tilted for drinking.

[0008] When the splash-resistant lid assembly is snapped onto acontainer, it provides a splash-resistant container assembly. Thecontainer itself has a side wall with a top portion and a curled orrolled brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall. The brimextends radially outward from the top portion of the side wall andcircumferes the top portion of the container. The lid has a lidperipheral portion with a continuous radial lid bead having a horizontalportion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion. Thecontinuous radial lid bead preferably engages with the brim in a snapfitting manner when the lid closes the container. A baffle insert has abaffle peripheral portion which may be disposed in the downwardlyextending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead between the rim andthe horizontal portion of the lid bead when the insert is snapped intothe lid bead. The baffle insert has a plurality of openings disposedaround the baffle peripheral portion to prevent the liquid inside thecontainer from splashing and spilling out of the container. Theconfiguration of the baffle is such that when the baffle is insertedinto the lid, the baffle peripheral portion engages in a snap fitrelationship with the continuous radial lid bead.

[0009] According to the inventive method, assembling a lid with a baffleinsert for the above-described container comprises providing a lid witha lid peripheral portion and a continuous peripheral lid bead around theperipheral portion. The peripheral lid bead comprises an annularhorizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion,the bead configured to engage with the rim in a snap fitting manner.Furthermore, the method comprises providing a baffle insert having ahorizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality ofopenings disposed around the baffle peripheral portion. Inserting thebaffle insert into the lid comprises snapping the baffle peripheralportion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion of thelid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that the horizontalsurface engages in the fitting relationship with the horizontal portionof the lid bead.

[0010] Providing the components for a splash-resistant containercomprises providing a container with a side wall having a top portionand a brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall. Thecontainer can be any suitable receptacle use to store and transportliquids. For example, in the food industry such a container can be acup, a bowl or anything else suitable for cold and hot drinks, soups andother liquids. Furthermore, the method comprises providing a lid with alid peripheral portion and a continuous radial lid bead comprising ahorizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion.The bead is configured to engage with the brim in a snap fitting manner.In particular, the outside diameter of the baffle is greater than theoutside diameter of the cup and greater than the inside diameter of aridge disposed below the lid skirt. At the same time, the outsidediameter of the baffle is smaller than the inside diameter of the lidskirt. Providing a baffle insert with a horizontal surface, a baffleperipheral portion, and a plurality of openings disposed around thebaffle peripheral portion is intended to reduce splashing of the liquidfrom the container. The configuration of the baffle is such that thebaffle can be inserted into the lid by engaging the baffle peripheralportion in a snap fit relationship with the continuous radial lid beadand by engaging the first horizontal surface of the baffle in a fittingrelationship with the horizontal portion of the lid when the baffleperipheral portion is retained between the horizontal portion of the lidand the brim.

[0011] A method of assembling a splash-resistant container according tothe present invention comprises providing a container with a side wallhaving a top portion and a rim disposed along the top portion of theside wall, and providing a lid with a lid peripheral portion and acontinuous radial lid bead. The radial lid bead comprises a horizontalportion and a downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and isconfigured to engage with the rim in a snap fitting manner. Providing abaffle insert with a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion,and a plurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portionis the step intended to reduce the splashing of the liquid from thecontainer. Reducing splashing is accomplished by inserting the baffleinsert into the lid by snapping the baffle peripheral portion into thedownwardly extending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead in a snapfitting manner in such a way that the horizontal surface is in a filtingrelationship with the horizontal portion of the lid bead. Alternatively,a user can proceed by disposing the baffle insert on the container insuch a way that the peripheral portion of the baffle insert is inregistry with the rim. Finally, snap-fitting the lid onto the rim andsandwiching the baffle peripheral portion of the horizontal surfacebetween the horizontal portion of the lid and the rim closes thecontainer in a desired splash-minimizing manner.

[0012] Other aspects and features of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly comprising a lidwith a baffle according to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2a is a top view of a baffle with a plurality of holes.

[0015]FIG. 2b is a top view of an alternative baffle.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a top view of a lid.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly of the presentinvention as used with a cup.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a detailed view of section A of a snap-on fittedengagement of a lid, baffle and cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, an illustrated cover assembly designatedas 10 comprises a lid 15 and a baffle 11. The terms “baffle” and “baffleinsert” are used throughout this description interchangeably. Lid 15 canbe made of any material conventionally used for manufacturing lids. Forexample, a thermoplastic material is generally one of the suitablechoices. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, lid 15 hasa raised dome portion 36 which makes it convenient for a person to drinkout of a cup closed by lid 15. There is no requirement that portion 36of lid 15 be exactly as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, which depict theparticular lid for the purpose of illustration. Dome portion 36 of FIG.1 has a horizontal surface 12 and a ridge 17 of different widths 16 and18. Depending on the application, ridge 17 can have a uniform width. Asip portion is disposed in ridge 17 of width 16. It is contemplated bythe present invention that the sip portion can be a sip opening 14disposed in dome portion 36. It is also contemplated that the sipportion can be preconfigured (perforated, sealed, scored, or precut) tobecome sip opening 14 when a user pokes the sip portion with a straw, ortears back the perforated portion, or unseals the sip portion to formthe sip opening. Opening 14 can be a larger size opening for consumingsoups, or it can be smaller size opening for consuming beverages. Adepression 21 located in horizontal surface 12 (also called a “nosenook”) is provided for the user's nose clearance when the lid is tiltedat a steep angle. A vent opening can also be provided in lid 15 in anyconvenient location. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, sip opening 14is located off the center of dome portion 36 to make it convenient for aperson to drink through lid 15. It is contemplated that sip opening 14can be located anywhere on horizontal surface 12 as may be designed forcertain use. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 opening14 is a larger size opening suitable for consuming soups. Afrusto-conical sloping surface 13 joins dome portion 36 with acontinuous lid bead 19. Lid bead 19 has a horizontal portion 20 and adownwardly extending peripheral skirt portion 22 which, in turn, joins alower skirt 24 outwardly flaring of the lid.

[0020] Baffle 11 inserted into lid bead 19 has a plurality of openingsmore clearly illustrated in FIG. 2a. Baffle 11 can be characterized by aperipheral portion 34 and a center 35. In a preferred embodiment thethickness of baffle 11 is substantially uniform. As shown in theparticular example of FIG. 2a, openings 26 are disposed along peripheralportion 34 and in center 35 of the baffle. The size of openings 26 isgenerally smaller than the size of sip opening 14 in the lid. Such arelationship between the smaller size of the openings in the baffleinsert and the larger size of the sip opening makes it possible for thebaffle to restrain the liquid from splashing from the container coveredby the lid during transportation, while still providing a sufficientlylarge sip opening for a person to drink through the lid when thecontainer is tilted for drinking. It is also desirable that openings 26in the baffle are not in registry with sip opening 14, preventing thesplashed liquid from spilling over through the sip opening duringtransportation, but allowing a person to drinking through the lid when acontainer is tilted. To accomplish non-registry of openings 26 and sipopening 14, keying of the baffle and skirt portion 22 can be used. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 2b, baffle 11 can be provided with one or morenotches 23 (FIG. 2b shows two notches 23 for illustration, but not forlimitation) aligned with the corresponding number of protrusions 25 onthe inside surface of lid bead 19. The shape of one or more notches 23and the corresponding shape of one or more protrusions 25 can be anyconvenient shape as long as the keying function is accomplished. Keyingof baffle 11 and lid bead 1 be obtained by visual inspection. Baffle 11and lid 15 can be manufactured from the same or different flexiblematerials suitable for a particular application.

[0021] In the particular examples of FIGS. 1 and 2a, lid 15 and baffle11 are annular, meaning that peripheral portion 34 of the baffle isannular, or disc-shaped, and can be characterized by a circumferencealong which openings 26 are disposed. Continuous lid bead 19 asillustrated in FIG. 1 is also annular and accommodates peripheralportion 34 in a snap-fitting relationship. It should be noted that whilethe traditional shape of lids and cups in the food industry is circular,the present cover assembly invention can be successfully utilized withlids, baffles and containers of different geometric shapes (square,triangular and others).

[0022] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a top view of one of the possibleembodiments of a lid used in the cover assembly of the presentinvention. Ridge 17 has sip opening 14 and has sloping surface 13joining with continuous lid bead 19. The lid bead is shown to havehorizontal portion 20 and downwardly facing skirt portion 22 which, inturn, joins a lower skirt 24 outwardly flaring of the lid.

[0023] Shown in FIG. 4 is a splash-resistant container assembly with thelid and baffle insert provided in accordance with the present invention.Container 40 can be any receptacle suitable for carrying liquids, such acup, a bowl, a can or any similar object. Container 40 can be of anysuitable size and shape dictated by how the container is used. As one ofthe examples, food containers used in the take-out food industry can bedisposable or non-disposable cups and bowls. Typically, such cups andbowls have cylindrical or conical or frusto-conical shape and are madeof foamed polystyrene or paper. A liquid 32, such as a hot or cold drinkbeverage or soup, is usually poured into the volume of container 40.Container 40 comprises a side wall 30 having a top portion 31 and a brim28. As shown in FIG. 4 and in more detail in FIG. 5, brim 28 extendsradially outwardly from top portion 31 to receive lid bead 19 in asnap-fitting manner. Baffle 11 is inserted into the lid by engagingbaffle peripheral portion 34 into lid bead 19 in a snap-fitrelationship. Downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion 22 receivesperipheral portion 34 of the baffle which remains securely inserted intolid bead 19. Continuous lid bead 19 is then snapped onto brim 28 ofcontainer 40, securing cover assembly 10 on top portion 31 of side wall30 of the container and sandwiching peripheral portion 34 of baffle 11between horizontal portion 20 of continuous lid bead 19 and brim 28. Ascan be seen in FIG. 4, baffle 11 of uniform thickness becomes securelyinserted between the lid and brim 28. The smaller openings 26 in baffle11 prevent the splashing of liquid 32 from container 40 and spilling outof container 40 through sip opening 14. The baffle does not take upspace in container 40, maximizing the amount of liquid 32 that can bepoured into and transported in container 40. When container 40 istilted, openings 26 will let liquid 32 pass through them so that aperson can drink liquid 32 through larger sip opening 14. A preferredshape of container 40 is cylindrical or frusto-conical, the preferredshape lid bead 19 of cover assembly 10 is annular, and the preferredshape of baffle insert 11 is a circular disc. The described preferredshapes should not be considered as limiting, since other shapes of thecontainer, the lid bead and the baffle insert can be utilized in asplash-resistant cover assembly and container of the present invention.

[0024] A more detailed view of section A (shown as a dashed circle inFIG. 4) is illustrated in FIG. 5. There side wall 30 with top portion 31has brim 28 shown with peripheral portion 34 of baffle 11 retainedbetween horizontal portion 20 of lid bead 19 and the brim. It can beseen from the detailed view in FIG. 5 that the height of lid bead 19,and in particular of downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion 22,should be sufficient to house peripheral portion 34 of baffle 11 andbrim 28 in a snap-fitting engagement. In particular, baffle 11 in such asnap-fit engagement has the outside diameter OD_(b) (shown in FIG. 2A)larger than the outside diameter OD_(c) of container 40 and larger thanthe inside diameter ID_(r) of ridge 29 below skirt portion 22 (OD_(c)and ID_(r) are shown in FIG. 5). As also shown in FIG. 5, OD_(b) ofbaffle 11 is smaller that the internal diameter ID_(s) of skirt portion22. The described relation between OD_(b) and OD_(c), ID_(r), andID_(s), respectively, provide for retaining the baffle betweenhorizontal portion 20 of lid bead 19 and brim 28. Lids 15 of the typeshown in FIGS. 1 and 4 can be transported and delivered to the place ofuse in conventional nested stacks. When the lid is used to close a cupor a bowl, the baffle can be snapped into the lid to form the coverassembly of the present invention and to close the container.

[0025] The present invention also provides for a method of assemblingthe cover assembly shown and described with regard to FIGS. 1-5. Themethod comprises providing lid 15 with a peripheral portion havingcontinuous radial bead 19, comprising horizontal portion 20 and skirtportion 22. Furthermore, the method comprises providing baffle insert 11having horizontal surface 38, baffle peripheral portion 34 and aplurality of openings 26 disposed along baffle peripheral portion 34. Inone of the embodiments of the method, one of the openings 26 is disposedin center 35 of baffle 11. Furthermore, the method comprises insertingbaffle 11 into lid 15 by snapping baffle peripheral portion 34 intodownwardly extending peripheral skirt portion 22 of lid bead 19 in asnap fitting manner. Horizontal portion 20 engages in a fittingrelationship with baffle peripheral portion 34, making it possible toprovide a secure splash-resistant cover assembly. As described above,the shape of lid 15 can be of any suitable shape. FIGS. 1 and 4illustrate a lid with dome portion 36 as a particular example of thelid. Providing lid 15 comprises providing sip opening 14 of a sizelarger than that of openings 26 disposed in the baffle insert, whichpreferably is of uniform thickness. In the particular embodiment of theinvention, continuous lid bead 19 and baffle insert 11 are made of aflexible thermoplastic material and are of annular shape.

[0026] The cover assembly described above is typically used to provide asplash resistant container. The method of providing a splash-resistantcontainer comprises providing container 40 with side wall 30 having topportion 31 and brim 28. Container 40 can be any receptacle suitable forcarrying liquids, such a cup, a bowl, a can or any similar object.Providing container 40 comprises providing a container of any suitablesize and shape dictated by how the container is used. As one of theexamples, food containers used in the take-out food industry can bedisposable or non-disposable cups and bowls. Typically, such cups andbowls have cylindrical or conical or frusto-conical shape and are madeof foamed polystyrene or paper. Liquid 32, as shown in FIG. 4, such as ahot or cold drink beverage or soup, is usually poured into the volume ofcontainer 40. Furthermore, the method comprises providing lid 15 with alid peripheral portion having continuous radial bead 19. Bead 19comprises horizontal portion 20 and downwardly extending peripheralskirt portion 22 configured to engage with brim 28 in a snap fittingmanner. The method also comprises providing baffle 11 having horizontalsurface 38, baffle peripheral portion 34 and a plurality of openings 26disposed along baffle peripheral portion 34.

[0027] Assembling splash resistant container 40 further comprisesinserting baffle 11 into lid 15 by snapping baffle peripheral portion 34into downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion 22 of lid bead 19 ina snap fitting relationship. Alternatively, baffle 11 can be disposed oncontainer 40 in such a-way that peripheral portion 34 is in registrywith brim 28 before lid 15 is snapped on container 40. Finally, snapfitting lid 15 onto brim 28 sandwiches baffle peripheral portion 34between horizontal portion 20 of lid 15 and brim 28 of container 40.More particularly, snap fitting lid 15 onto brim 28 comprises snappingbaffle peripheral portion 34 into downwardly extending peripheral skirtportion 22 of lid bead 19 in a snap fitting manner, causing horizontalsurface 38 (at baffle peripheral portion 34) to engage in the fittingrelationship with horizontal portion 20 of lid bead 19.

[0028] While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, changes and modifications may be made to suchembodiments without departing from the true scope of the invention.

1. A cover assembly for a container having a side wall with a brim, thecover assembly comprising: a lid having a lid peripheral portioncomprising a continuous radial lid bead having a horizontal portion anda downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion, the continuous radiallid bead being configured to engage with the brim in a snap fittingmanner; and a baffle of a flexible material comprising a baffleperipheral portion, a first horizontal surface, and a plurality ofopenings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion, the configurationof the baffle being such that the baffle can be inserted into the lid byengaging the baffle peripheral portion in a snap-fitting relationshipwith the continuous radial lid bead and by engaging the first horizontalsurface of the baffle in a fitting relationship with the horizontalportion of the lid when the baffle peripheral portion is retainedbetween the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim.
 2. The coverassembly of claim 1, wherein the peripheral portion of the lid and thebaffle peripheral portion are annular.
 3. The cover assembly of claim 2,further comprising a first opening disposed in the center of the baffleand wherein the plurality of openings are disposed along thecircumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion.
 4. The coverassembly of claim 1, wherein the lid further comprises a dome portionwith a sip portion and a vent portion and wherein the size of the sipportion is larger than that of the plurality of openings disposed alongthe baffle peripheral portion.
 5. The cover assembly of claim 4, whereinthe sip portion is a sip opening.
 6. The cover assembly of claim 4,wherein the sip portion is preconfigured to be opened by a user to formthe sip opening.
 7. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid andthe baffle are made of a thermoplastic material.
 8. The cover assemblyof claim 1, wherein the baffle has a substantially uniform thickness. 9.A splash-resistant container assembly comprising: a container having aside wall with a top portion and a brim disposed along the top portionof the side wall, the brim extending radially outwardly from the topportion of the side wall; a lid having a lid peripheral portioncomprising a continuous radial lid bead having a horizontal portion anda downwardly extending peripheral skirt portion, the continuous radiallid bead engaging with the brim in a snap fitting manner; and a baffleinsert having a baffle peripheral portion disposed in the downwardlyextending peripheral skirt portion of the lid bead between the brim andthe horizontal portion of the lid bead, the baffle insert comprising aplurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion, theconfiguration of the baffle being such that the baffle is inserted intothe lid by engaging the baffle peripheral portion in a snap fittingrelationship with the continuous radial lid bead.
 10. Thesplash-resistant container of claim 9, wherein the side wall and thebrim of the container are generally circular, and wherein the peripheralportion of the lid is generally circular.
 11. The splash-resistantcontainer of claim 9, wherein the lid further comprises a sip portionand a vent opening.
 12. The splash-resistant container of claim 11,wherein the sip portion is a sip opening.
 13. The splash-resistantcontainer of claim 11, wherein the sip portion is preconfigured to beopened by a user to form the sip opening.
 14. The splash-resistantcontainer of claim 10, wherein the baffle peripheral portion isgenerally annular and wherein the plurality of openings is disposedalong the circumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion andwherein an additional opening is spaced apart from the circumference.15. The splash-resistant container of claim 12, wherein the size of thesip opening is larger than that of the plurality of openings disposedalong the baffle peripheral portion.
 16. The splash-resistant containerof claim 9, wherein the baffle insert has a substantially uniformthickness.
 17. A method of assembling a lid with a baffle insert for acontainer having a side wall and a brim, the method comprising:providing a lid having a lid peripheral portion with a continuous radiallid bead, the radial lid bead comprising a horizontal portion and adownwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and being configured toengage with the brim in a snap fitting manner; providing a baffle inserthaving a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and aplurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion; andinserting the baffle insert into the lid by snapping the baffleperipheral portion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirtportion of the lid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that thehorizontal surface is in the fitting relationship with the horizontalportion of the lid bead.
 18. The method of assembling as in claim 17,wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent opening anda dome portion of the lid having a sip.
 19. The method of assembling asin claim 18, wherein the sip portion is a sip opening.
 20. The method ofassembling as in claim 18, wherein the sip portion is preconfigured tobe opened by a user to form the sip opening.
 21. The method ofassembling as in claim 19, wherein providing the lid comprises providingthe sip opening of a size larger than the size of the plurality ofopening in the baffle insert.
 22. The method of assembling as in claim17, further comprising providing the baffle insert of a substantiallyuniform thickness.
 23. The method of assembling as in claim 17, whereinthe side walls and the brim of the container are generally annular andwherein the baffle peripheral portion is generally annular.
 24. Themethod of assembling as in claim 22, wherein providing the plurality ofthrough openings comprises disposing the opening along the circumferenceof the baffle peripheral portion.
 25. The method of assembling as inclaim 17, further comprising providing the lid and the baffle insertmade of a thermoplastic material.
 26. A method of providing asplash-resistant container comprising: providing a container comprisinga side wall having a top portion and a brim disposed along the topportion of the side wall; providing a lid having a lid peripheralportion with a continuous radial lid bead, the radial lid beadcomprising a horizontal portion and a downwardly extending peripheralskirt portion and being configured to engage with the brim in a snapfitting manner; and providing a baffle insert having a horizontalsurface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality of openingsdisposed along the baffle peripheral portion, the configuration of thebaffle being such that the baffle can be inserted into the lid byengaging the baffle peripheral portion in a snap fit relationship withthe continuous radial lid bead and by engaging the first horizontalsurface of the baffle in a fitting relationship with the horizontalportion of the lid when the baffle peripheral portion is retainedbetween the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim.
 27. The methodof claim 26, wherein providing the lid and the baffle insert comprisesproviding shaped annularly the peripheral portion of the lid and thebaffle peripheral portion.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein providingthe baffle insert with the plurality of openings further comprisesproviding the plurality of openings disposed along the circumference ofthe annular baffle peripheral portion and providing an additionalopening spaced apart from the circumference.
 29. The method of claim 26,wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a dome portion ofthe lid with a sip opening in the dome portion, the sip opening beinglarger than the openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion.30. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing the lid and thebaffle insert made of a thermoplastic material.
 31. The method of claim26, wherein providing a container comprises providing a cup or soupbowl.
 32. A method of assembling a splash-resistant container, themethod comprising: providing a container comprising a side wall having atop portion and a brim disposed along the top portion of the side wall;providing a lid having a lid peripheral portion with a continuous radiallid bead, the radial lid bead comprising a horizontal portion and adownwardly extending peripheral skirt portion and being configured toengage with the brim in a snap fitting manner; providing a baffle inserthaving a horizontal surface, a baffle peripheral portion, and aplurality of openings disposed along the baffle peripheral portion;inserting the baffle insert into the lid by snapping the baffleperipheral portion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirtportion of the lid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that thehorizontal surface is in the fitting relationship with the horizontalportion of the lid bead; and snap fitting the lid onto the brim, therebysandwiching the baffle peripheral portion of the horizontal surfacebetween the horizontal portion of the lid and the brim.
 33. The methodof assembling as in claim 32, wherein providing the container, the lidand the baffle insert comprises providing the brim, the peripheralportion of the lid, and the baffle peripheral portion shaped annularly.34. The method of assembling as in claim 33, wherein providing thebaffle insert with the plurality of openings comprises providing theplurality of openings disposed along the circumference of the annularbaffle peripheral portion and providing an additional opening spacedapart from the circumference.
 35. The method of assembling as in claim32, wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a vent openingand a dome portion of the lid with a sip portion in the dome portion,the sip portion being a sip opening.
 36. The method of assembling as inclaim 32, wherein providing the lid further comprises providing a ventopening and a dome portion of the lid with a sip portion in the domeportion, the sip portion being preconfigured to be opened by a user toform the sip opening, the sip opening being larger than the openingsdisposed along the baffle peripheral portion.
 37. The method ofassembling as in claim 32, wherein providing the container comprisesproviding a cup or a soup bowl.
 38. A method of assembling asplash-resistant container, the method comprising: providing a containercomprising a side wall having a top portion and a brim disposed alongthe top portion of the side wall; providing a lid having a lidperipheral portion with a continuous radial lid bead, the radial lidbead comprising a horizontal portion and a downwardly extendingperipheral skirt portion and being configured to engage with the brim ina snap fitting manner; providing a baffle insert having a horizontalsurface, a baffle peripheral portion, and a plurality of openingsdisposed along the baffle peripheral portion; disposing the baffleinsert on the container in such a way that the peripheral portion of thebaffle insert is in registry with the brim; and snap fitting the lidonto the brim, thereby sandwiching the baffle peripheral portion betweenthe horizontal portion of the lid and the brim and thereby snapping thebaffle peripheral portion into the downwardly extending peripheral skirtportion of the lid bead in a snap fitting manner in such a way that thehorizontal surface is in a fitting relationship with the horizontalportion of the lid bead.
 39. The method of assembling as in claim 38,wherein providing the container, the lid and the baffle insert comprisesproviding the brim, the peripheral portion of the lid, and the baffleperipheral portion of annular shape.
 40. The method of assembling as inclaim 38, wherein the baffle insert with the plurality of openingscomprises providing the plurality of openings disposed along thecircumference of the annular baffle peripheral portion and providing anadditional opening spaced apart from the circumference.
 41. The methodof assembling as in claim 38, wherein providing the lid furthercomprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lid with asip portion in the dome portion, the sip portion being a sip opening.42. The method of assembling as in claim 38, wherein providing the lidfurther comprises providing a vent opening and a dome portion of the lidwith a sip portion in the dome portion, the sip portion beingpreconfigured to be opened by a user to form the sip opening, the sipopening being larger than the openings disposed along the baffleperipheral portion.